We're BAAAACK!! Did you miss me?

We went to KENTUCKY! And did we ever tour Kentucky. It took us from 6:00AM to about 6:00PM to reach Bardstown, south of Louisville. Bardstown it an interesting community and we spent our first evening at a restuarant called the Old Stable. We had a buffet and mint julips (or a punch) in special Kentucky Derby Glass. They issue a new one each year and the Old Stable has one of every single year in a cabinet on the wall in the dining room. We got to keep the glass too. I ended up with three of them, so Jim will have one too. I like that. There were a man and woman playing bluegrass/country music just for us during our dinner. It was a nice buffet, but I am going to tell you now that I hope I do not have another buffet to go to for at least six months.

After we ate they got four of us (naturally I got "recommended " by Patty, our tour director) to go up and show off our musical abilities. Gene played the Washtub Cello, Stan played the Stumpf Fiddle, I got the Washboard and Maureen played the tamborine. It was a lot of fun.

I didn't tell you, we also were given hand made hats that we all "had" to wear while we ate.. Dick was "thrilled" as you can well imagine.

Anyway, we are home now and frankly we are really glad to be here. Have you ever noticed how excited one gets when one perpares and leaves on a vacation and how, as it gets closer, one becomes more and more eager to be home?

Critters were very glad to see us. Chelsea is at this moment trying to tell me that she is ready for bed now.

We were so delighted tonight to have Leslie call. She wanted to hear how we liked the trip and where we went. She had GOOD news from there also. Bill is starting a new job at LSU which is much more what he wants to be doing and will be more profitable AND they can stay where they are. They have grown to like it there and would hate to leave, at least for the time being. Also, our Sara has her first job. She is bagging at Kroger's and has been there for three weeks. Yea! Sara!. We are so proud. That first one is always the hardest. Experience and a job history helps SO much.

I will send pictures later, and let you all know more of our trip each day. We went to the Louisville Slugger factory in Louisville to find out how they make the wooden bats that they are famous for and to visit their museum. This was Friday. I mention this because I like to have a nice ending to the blog and was impressed with something Dusty Baker said on the film they show before you tour the factory. He spoke of playing baseball as a kid and all the kids encouraging each other as they played. He remembers the others yelling "Yea Dusty, Go Dusty Baker." when he was a kid. He then said, and I quote, that because of playing the way he did as a kid, " You kind of expect yourself to be a hero." I have visions of all these kids playing little league and pick up games imagining themselves as heros of the game. Too bad they can't always believe they are heros.

Til tomorrow

Mary

Well, today was a beautiful day. Sunny and comfortable with little wind. I got up at my usual 6:00AM. I had a lot to do. I was frying out tonight so fixed the potato salad and had a couple of extra eggs, so I made some deviled eggs that were spectacular. I keep telling the guys that there is really NO recipe. They always are good but these were really special. I must remember to always use "spicy brown" mustard.

I left early for church because I had to sell raffle tickets for the Turkey Dinner Raffle. I have donated a twin size quilt that I finished about a month ago. It is one of my travel quilts. It is mainly in greens and quite colorful. The other prizes are a sewing machine, a beautiful framed print by Kitty Klitch of the Villager in Sheboygan falls. Kitty is the head of the Turkey Dinner committee and an extremely talented local artist and teacher of art in the area and a "flag" throw. After that I went to visit Mother before going to Mass myself. The choir sang at this Mass. We sang a Vivaldi which is very lively and quite pretty. "Sing to the Lord."

I had to go directly from Church to Rhine to work the Sunday Open Shoot. It was very slow so Bobbie and I were able to easily do our league shoots. I was pretty happy with this week. I think my scores were all in the 50s and 60s which is good for me.

I fried brats to go with the potato salad. The fryer was scary tonight. I started to get flare ups (which I expected) and was totally prepared with a water squirt bottle, I kept putting the scattered flames out but finally the whole bowl of the fryer burst into flame and I was barely able to rescue the brats. They provided us with a little charcoal,(is charcoal really good for the breath) but still tasted good. I have never before in all my frying days had a fryer turn into an inferno.

Now, everything is done for the evening. This will be my last blog until next Saturday. Will you be able to stand it? All I have to do tomorrow morning, (we leave at 6:00AM) is shower, get dressed, walk poor pitiful Chelsea and eat something.

My brother Jeff (actually it probably was Kathy, his wife) sent me the greatest 20 "Words of Wiscom". Here is one for you to mull on.

When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bike. Then I
realized that The Lord doesn't work that way, so I stole one and
asked him to forgive me.
-- Emo Philips

Ezio Pinza was just singing "This Nearly Was Mine" from South Pacific on The Show Tunes Music Channel. As Dick says there are some names and songs that just turn me on. Ezio singing South Pacific is one of them.


I love you all. Have a great week and come back on Saturday for a quick summery of the Mystery Tour.

Mary